Speed bump on state highway BA 667 in the city of Itaju do Colonia in southern Bahia, Brazil. © Joa_Souza.
As Brazil faces increasingly complex challenges brought about by climate change, the resilience of its road infrastructure has become a critical concern. With extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, flooding or extreme droughts becoming more frequent and severe, the country’s road network is at risk. These roads are vital not only for transportation and trade, but also for connecting remote communities and facilitating emergency responses during disasters.
With support from the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), Brazil is embarking on an ambitious journey to overhaul its road infrastructure with the Brazil Pro-Roads Program, a 12-year project designed to enhance the sustainability, safety and resilience of the country’s transport networks.
The first phase of the project, supported by a $150 million loan from the World Bank, will focus on the northeastern state of Bahia and provide 2.35 million people with enhanced road connectivity, improved accessibility, and better protection against natural hazards like floods and landslides. This loan is part of a larger $1.66 billion program to improve the long-term sustainability of the road network, incorporating climate resilience and disaster risk management (DRM) to address the country’s growing infrastructure challenges.
Over six phases, the program will reach at least the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Piauí, with more states potentially joining the program (Tocantins, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe). The program is also expected to expand to the federal roads managed by Brazil’s Ministry of Transport.
GFDRR’s critical role in supporting climate resilience in Brazil
GFDRR has been a key partner in the development of the Brazil Pro-Roads Program, providing funding for critical climate risk analyses and technical expertise that shape its climate resilience strategies.
GFDRR’s support, particularly through the the Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Developing Countries, helped identify climate risks, foster knowledge exchange, and build capacity among subnational authorities. This support has enabled states such as Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Santa Catarina to implement disaster-resilient road infrastructure and to develop effective risk financing strategies.
Additionally, GFDRR contributed to the development of hazard maps and climate models that inform road infrastructure protection in high-risk areas. It also supported the upgrade of Brazil’s performance-based road management framework through the CREMA methodology, which integrates proactive and resilient maintenance strategies for long-term resilience. This model encourages private investment while ensuring that roads are kept in good condition amid increasing disaster and climate risks.
Furthermore, GFDRR supported the creation of a manual on incorporating climate resilience into road design, construction, and maintenance, a quantitative methodological approach for assessing infrastructure exposure and vulnerability to climate risks, and the Climate Information and Assessment System (CIAS), which is a platform that will centralize climate risk data and infrastructure assessments for road authorities. Initially customized for four states—Bahia, Espírito Santo, Santa Catarina, and Mato Grosso do Sul—CIAS has the potential for broader adoption across Brazil and internationally.
By strengthening local authorities’ ability to understand and manage disaster risks, the World Bank, with significant support from GFDRR, is helping Brazil set a precedent for sustainable infrastructure development that prioritizes resilience in the face of climate change.
Through innovative financing models, private-sector partnerships, and an emphasis on long-term maintenance, the Brazil Pro-Roads Program addresses the infrastructure needs of a geographically diverse country while also setting a global standard for integrating climate resilience into road development.
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